Category: Cyprus News Agency

Minister of the Interior, Constantinos Ioannou, and Minister of Housing, Energy and Climate, Tourism and Youth of Belgium, Hans Bonte, held a meeting on Monday, in Nicosia, during which they confirmed the excellent relations and close cooperation between Cyprus and Belgium on housing policy issues at the European level, with emphasis on the social dimension of housing and the need to ensure adequate and affordable housing for all, according to a press release by the Ministry.

The Belgian Minister is currently in Cyprus to attend the Informal Ministerial Meeting on Housing organised on Tuesday, in the framework of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of the Interior, Ioannou referred to the initiatives of the Cyprus EU Presidency to maintain the housing issue high on the European agenda. Priorities, he said, are increasing the supply of housing through construction and renovation, affordable housing for low and middle-income households, mobilizing investments and exchanging experiences and qualitative data between member states.

During the meeting, the importance of implementing the European Plan for Affordable Housing, which can contribute to supporting national housing policies, with respect to the principle of subsidiarity and the specificities of the member states, was also underlined, the press release says.

The Minister of Interior referred to Tuesday’s Informal Ministerial Meeting on Housing, noting that the aim of the Cyprus Presidency is to promote constructive dialogue and substantive policies for the benefit of European citizens.

The two Ministers also exchanged views on the national priorities and challenges facing their countries in the field of affordable and social housing, underlining the importance of continuing cooperation at the European level.

Imports of goods increased in March 2026, while exports recorded a more modest rise, leading to a further deterioration of the trade balance in the first quarter of the year, according to preliminary external trade data released on Monday by the Statistical Service of Cyprus.

In March, total imports reached pound 1.21 billion, marking an 11.6% year-on-year increase compared with pound 1.08 billion in the same month of 2025. The rise was driven by both purchases from EU Member States, which amounted to pound 710 million, and from third countries, at pound 500.7 million. It is noted that imports also include transfers of economic ownership of ships and aircraft worth pound 20.3 million, significantly lower than last year.

On the exports side, a 6.7% increase was recorded, with total exports reaching pound 506.9 million. Exports to the EU amounted to pound 117.7 million, while exports to third countries stood at pound 389.2 million. However, ship transfers also affected these figures, as they declined to pound 41.2 million from pound 98.1 million in March 2025.

On a quarterly basis, imports rose marginally by 1% to pound 3.32 billion, while exports fell significantly by 9.8% to pound 1.28 billion. This development led to a widening of the trade deficit to pound 2.05 billion, compared with pound 1.88 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.

Sharp drop in exports in February

Final data for February show a steep decline in exports, particularly of domestically produced goods. Specifically, domestic exports fell by 52.4% to pound 153.3 million, compared with pound 322.2 million in February 2025.

The decline was mainly observed in industrial products (excluding supplies to ships and aircraft), which dropped sharply to pound 143.2 million from pound 311.7 million a year earlier. By contrast, exports of agricultural products remained almost unchanged at pound 9.3 million.

At the same time, exports of foreign goods decreased by 47.6% to pound 91.1 million, reflecting a broad-based slowdown in export activity.

Fuels, pharmaceuticals and halloumi lead exports

During the first two months of the year, the main pillars of domestic exports were mineral fuels and oils (pound 193 million), pharmaceutical products (pound 62.8 million) and Halloumi (pound 52.4 million).

Weather Temperature for Cyprus

Today’s weather and temperatures for Cyprus according to the Department of Meteorology

Date 11/05/2026

Station

TEMPERATURE (C) (FROM 20:00 PC of the previous one until the time of the show)

Humidity at

1200 UTC

The new Multiannual Financial Framework will include flexibility measures to make EU’s crisis respond fast and effective, Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration, Piotr Serafin, and Cyprus’ Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna, said at a press conference, following the conclusion of the Informal Meeting of the Ministers of for European Affairs, held in Nicosia on Monday.

As the Commissioner explained, the new MFF will include the crisis mechanism that could be activated by qualified majority voting, instead of unanimity, calling the process ‘an opportunity, not a risk factor’.

According to Raouna, the Ministers discussed the MFF, EU’s enlargement process, with the participation of candidate countries and potential candidate countries, and a discussion on EU’s cooperation with UK, with the participation of UK’s Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations.

‘Today’s meeting provided an important opportunity to reflect together on how we can continue advancing in tangible ways, in results-driven ways, the guiding vision of our presidency, which is a more autonomous union open to the world,’ Raouna said, adding that the Ministers today had the opportunity to exchange views openly and constructively on some of the key issues shaping the Union’s future.

An MFF cable to response to crises

On the new MFF, Raouna said that the exchange of views confirmed the need for a long-term budget that will enable the EU to respond decisively and effectively to unforeseen circumstances, geopolitical developments and crises. ‘This is particularly relevant nowadays as we are faced with an increasing number of broad and high-scaled crises, ranging from natural disasters to migration to health, including animal health, and hybrid threats, which was a point raised by a number of member states,’ she said.

According to Raouna, the discussion touched upon the overall flexibility of the new budget, as well as dedicated instruments for crisis prevention and response. ‘The proposal by the Commission has taken on board the lessons learned and the experience from previous crises during the current MFF. There are varying views on the modalities and governance of the proposed mechanisms. At the same time, there is a very strong shared aspiration towards a Union that acts swiftly, effectively, and with solidarity in case of crisis’, she said.

Raouna added that the Cyprus’ Presidency will continue to work on defining the right balance between flexibility and predictability of long-term investments, and pointed out that the new MFF is among the top priorities of the Cyprus Presidency.

‘We have been working hard since day one, hand in hand with Member States, with the European Commission, working closely with the European Parliament on all fronts with a view to reach an agreement on the MFF by the end of 2026,” she noted.

“This is the mandate that we have received by the European Council. To this end, our two key goals on the file are first, inserting the first figures in the negotiating box, and second, achieving an agreement in the Council on key sectoral files,’ she said.

On his part, Commissioner Serafin said that the debate today has confirmed the basic assumption on which Commission’s proposal was built, that the current financial framework is too rigid to respond effectively and decisively to fast-moving crises. ‘That is exactly the reason why we have put a number of flexibility measures into the proposal of our MFF, including the crisis mechanism,’ he said.

He stressed that, when confronted with crisis, the ability of the European Union to act decisively and quickly is of utmost importance.

‘In the last few years, we have experienced situations where one could have doubts whether the veto power was used to defend legitimate national interests or rather was used as a tool of a blackmail. Let me remind you that both in 2024 and this year, the MFF regulation had to be changed unanimously to allow the EU to act decisively in view of the geopolitical and security urgency,” he noted.

According to Serafin “we should be better prepared for such scenario in the future.”

“The crisis mechanism that could be activated by qualified majority voting is, from that perspective, an opportunity not a risk factor. Instead of talking about its elimination, we should rather be talking on how to strengthen it,’ he noted.

Enlargement as a strategic investment in Europe’s security

The second issue on the agenda was the enlargement process. Raouna said that in today’s challenging geopolitical and security environment, enlargement ‘is a strategic investment in Europe’s security, resilience, and unity. A more autonomous Union is an enlarged Union.’

However, she added that geopolitical urgency does not in any way lower the bar for accession. ‘The fundamentals remain central to accession negotiations. Rule of law, democratic institutions, fundamental rights, judicial independence, media freedom, public administration reform, and economic governance. These are not technical requirements. They are essential safeguards for resilient democracies and secure societies, and there are no shortcuts,’ she stressed.

She reiterated that enlargement is and must remain merit-based, with credible reforms and measurable progress being the best guarantee that enlargement will strengthen the Union’s unity, effectiveness, and global role.

Commissioner Serafin noted that with Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the geopolitics is back on the European continent. ‘We all know that the enlargement is the most powerful tool that we have at our disposal, the tool that can strengthen our security and prosperity. But we also want the enlargement that is making the EU stronger,” he said.

And that, he pointed out, “is exactly why we need to preserve a merit-based accession process, assessing together with the candidate countries’ progress in the reforms that are useful and beneficial also from their perspective.’

He added that the Meeting discussed the gradual integration, noting that it should be seen as a way to bring in certain benefits of membership even before the formal conclusion of the accession negotiations, without it being seen as an alternative to the enlargement.

Asked about the discussion on gradual integration, the Commissioner said that ‘I think there is quite a broad support, both from the candidate countries and also from the member states of the EU. There has always been a concern that gradual integration could be presented as a tool to replace the enlargement, and I think we clarified and we will continue to clarify that the idea is different. The idea is to offer benefits of membership in specific areas of integration even before the formal accession negotiation process is completed.’

He further noted that EU has a group of knowledgeable and experienced experts in drafting accession treaties. ‘They had nothing to do for the last 14 years, but that changes this week, also thanks to the Cypriot Presidency. They are starting to draft again. Therefore, I would like to say we keep fingers crossed for the first ad hoc working party on the drafting of the accession treaty with Montenegro that is going to take place exactly this week,’ he concluded.

Asked on Ukraine’s accession process, Raouna said that ‘we have advanced the technical work at the Council, at the technical level, working hand in hand with the European Commission’. She commended Ukraine because ‘in the face of the Russian war of aggression, they have consistently exerted every effort to deliver on the crucial reforms that are required for accession negotiations to progress’.

She said that in the margins of the informal General Affairs Council in March the Commission presented the work on the benchmarks for clusters 3, 4, and 5, for Ukraine and Moldova. ‘With that, we’ve completed the technical work,’ she said, noting that the Cyprus Presidency has been working, and continues to work to build consensus that will allow for the green light to be given.

‘We are ready, when that consensus is there’, she said, noting that as Presidency, we would want to have that as a deliverable. She noted that both President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, and Foreign Minister, Constantinos Kombos have had a communication with the new leadership in Hungary.

On the financial dimension of Ukraine’s accession, Commissioner Serafin said that Ukraine is the only candidate country that has a specific space in the future MFF. ‘We have put aside so-called Ukrainian reserve, which is over and above the ceiling of the future MFF’, noting that the necessary resources for reconstruction of Ukraine, but also for the gradual integration of Ukraine, will be there. ‘We will also be able to find with the Global Europe Fund necessary resources to ensure gradual integration also of other of our candidate countries’ he said.

EU-UK cooperation

Deputy Minister Raouna, also said that the informal Council held an exchange with the UK Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds on countering information manipulation and interference, ‘a growing and cross-cutting challenge for our democratic societies’.

Noting that the UK is a natural ally, Raouna pointed out that there is renewed momentum essential to cooperate with partners in this current environment. ‘Our discussion reaffirmed that Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) is a shared and evolving threat that requires closer coordination both within the European Union and with like-minded partners such as the UK, which brings valuable expertise and experience in this area.’

She added that building on the work of the first EU-UK summit, the Security and Defence Partnership Agreement, ‘we look forward as Presidency to continue delivering on this partnership dynamically focused and in a mutually beneficial way.’

Commissioner Serafin said that the presence of UK’s Minister was relevant, since ‘the UK is our tested and trusted ally in all security-related issues, and FIMI is one of them.’

He expressed hope that today’s exchange will strengthen EU-UK cooperation even more. ‘From the Commission’s side, we could even conclude today’s exchange as a mandate for even deepening cooperation with the UK in this area,’ he said, congratulating the Cyprus’ Presidency for the initiative to invite the UK back to the room.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 11/05/2026 UNTIL 0600 12/05/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1014hPa (hectopascal)

Weak high pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 20°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning Variable 3, gradually West to Northwest Smooth to Slight

Afternoon West to Northwest 3 to 4, locally 4 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

Night Northeast to Southeast 2 to 3 Smooth to Slight

South Coast

Morning Variable 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southwest to West 3 to 4, locally 4 Smooth to Slight

Night Northwest to Southwest 2 to 3, at times 3 Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Morning Variable 3, gradually East to Southeast Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4, later South to Southwest 4 Smooth to Slight

Night Southwest to West 3 Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Morning Variable 2 to 3, later Northwest to Northeast Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Night Southeast to Southwest 3 Smooth to Slight

CNA/PC/AGK/2026

Ahead of the May 24 parliamentary elections, political parties continued on Sunday their campaigns, with Democratic Rally (DISY) focusing on tourism, which it described as ‘the backbone of the Cypriot economy’, while also issuing Mother’s Day messages. The Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL), the Democratic Party (DIKO) and Democratic Alignment (DIPA) addressed issues related to social policy, the economy and family support, while the Cyprus Greens stressed the need for ‘clean and green’ politics ahead of the electoral contest.

In a press release issued on Sunday, DISY said tourism requires strategic planning, resilience to crises and continuous upgrading of the tourism product, outlining priorities including extending the tourism season to nine months, strengthening air connectivity and supporting investment and competitiveness.

According to DISY, citizens ‘hear generalities, contradictions and promises without a comprehensive plan’ from other parties, adding that ‘tourism is not suitable for experiments’. The party also referred to the 2013-2023 period, noting that during the DISY administration the Deputy Ministry of Tourism was established, the first National Tourism Strategy was implemented and tourist arrivals rose from 2.4 million in 2013 to nearly 4 million in 2019.

Meanwhile, the party expressed appreciation for mothers and their contribution to family, society and future generations, saying Mother’s Day highlights the multidimensional role of mothers in both family life and economic and social development through their active participation in work and public life.

On his part, AKEL Secretary General Stefanos Stefanou said the party is fighting to keep alive the hope for the reunification and future of Cyprus and for a better life for society. Speaking at a Mother’s Day event organised by AKEL Aradippou at the Cypriot Mother Monument, Stefanou said support for women and motherhood must be reflected through policies rather than ‘grand words or impressive statements’.

He added that many young couples face anxiety and economic pressure due to the rising cost of living and housing, stressing that ‘the right to family cannot be considered a luxury’.

Furthermore, AKEL highlighted the need for rational management of natural resources, waste and energy in the framework of a nationwide clean-up campaign, with Stefanou describing environmental protection as critical for quality of life and the future of society. He said climate change and the environmental crisis directly affect Cyprus and underlined the need for rational resource and energy management.

Elsewhere, AKEL accused DISY and DIKO of ‘rolling out the red carpet for ELAM and fascism’ following statements by MPs from the two parties in interviews published in Kathimerini newspaper on Sunday. AKEL spokesperson Giorgos Koukoumas said DISY President Annita Demetriou and DIKO MP Chrysis Pantelides were ‘clearly opening the door to official cooperation with ELAM for the Presidency of the House of Representatives’, claiming the ‘obvious final goal’ was the 2028 presidential elections.

For its part, DIKO MEP and S and D member Costas Mavrides referred to the need to strengthen defence cooperation between Greece and Cyprus within the framework of European defence during a party event titled ‘Defence: Challenges and Prospects’ on Saturday.

According to a DIKO statement, Mavrides described the current period as a ‘unique opportunity’ to establish a permanent presence of European forces in the Republic of Cyprus, stressing the need for Greece-Cyprus cooperation to be placed within a stable institutional framework to strengthen deterrence and security.

Meanwhile, DIKO reaffirmed its support for policies aimed at supporting families, women and motherhood, describing Mother’s Day as ‘a day of honour, recognition and deep gratitude’ towards mothers, whom it called the core of family and society.

In addition, DIPA welcomed Fitch Ratings’ decision to maintain Cyprus’ economy at A- with a positive outlook, saying the development strengthens the country’s credibility and stability amid international uncertainty and economic pressures. The party said fiscal discipline and targeted policies help safeguard the economy and strengthen confidence in Cyprus.

Meanwhile, Cyprus Greens (Movement of Ecologists – Citizens’ Cooperation) President Stavros Papadouris said ‘politics must be clean, honest and green’ during the Movement’s final nationwide campaign event on Sunday at the Pallas Theatre, ahead of the May 24 parliamentary elections.

Papadouris described the Movement as the ‘only credible choice’ against ‘corruption, lack of meritocracy and policies leading to dead ends’, adding that it represents citizens ‘tired of grand words and empty declarations’. He said political ecology is not ‘a temporary choice’, but a longstanding collective effort that for decades has ‘warned, put forward proposals and campaigned’.

Cyprus police carried out an island-wide operation in the past three days for migrants with no residence permits.

A press release issued by the Justice and Public Order Ministry says that 43 persons were arrested and 37 were deported during the coordinated operation, in cooperation with the Cyprus Police and the Deputy Ministry of Immigration and International Protection.

There were eleven voluntary departures while during checks at the island’s two airports the Police located persons with false travel documents. Moreover the authorities will participate tomorrow in a joint return flight to Pakistan and Georgia, during which ten foreigners, illegally residing on the island, will return home.

Operations and checks continue on a daily basis, the Ministry said, with the aim to promote safety and security for the citizens and to combat illegal migration.

The Multiannual Financial Framework, EU enlargement and information manipulation will be among the issues to be discussed on Monday at the Informal Meeting of Ministers for European Affairs that takes place in Nicosia in the framework of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.

According to an official press release, during the main part of the Meeting, that begins in the morning, discussions will focus in the first session on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034 and in the second session on EU enlargement, with the participation of representatives from EU candidate countries and a potential candidate member.

During their working lunch, Ministers will discuss information manipulation and foreign interference and EU-UK cooperation to address the issue, with the participation of a representative of the United Kingdom.

A press conference will be held in the afternoon by Cypriot Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna and Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration Piotr Serafin.

The multiannual financial framework, EU’s enlargement, and the promotion of a more autonomous Europe are at the center of the informal meeting of EU Ministers for European Affairs taking place on Monday in Nicosia. Speaking upon her arrival at the Filoxenia Conference Centre, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna said there is a ‘very clear vision and objective,’ to strengthen and promote a more autonomous Union that remains open to the world.

She noted that strategic autonomy lies at the heart of all the actions of the Cyprus Presidency, from defence and security to competitiveness, the economy, and trade.

Referring to the substance of today’s discussions, she said that they will focus on three main issues, such as the multiannual financial framework, which, as she stressed, is one of the most important files of the Cyprus Presidency. The other two concern enlargement, as well as discussions with the United Kingdom on cooperation in security and defence matters.

She noted that ‘this discussion follows the discussion leaders had here in Cyprus on 23 and 24 April. We have now moved from the technical stage of the negotiations to the political stage, focusing on the financing equation, so that by the end of our Presidency in June we will be in a position to submit a mature negotiating framework with figures.’

She added that the second issue on the agenda would be EU enlargement.

‘I am delighted that today in Nicosia we are hosting candidate countries and potential candidate countries for a discussion focused on the fundamentals, on democracy, and on the rule of law,’ she said.

She underlined that for Cyprus, ‘it is clear that a more autonomous Union, a more secure Union, is an enlarged Union.’

She also referred to President Nikos Christodoulides’ visit to Moldova on Europe Day, saying it was a very clear message to the people of Moldova ‘that Moldova belongs in Europe and that for partners who deliver on their commitments, the European Union also delivers on its own.’

Raouna added that during the third session of today’s discussions, British Minister for Europe Nick Thomas-Symonds will be hosted, noting that the United Kingdom is a like-minded partner and that, in light of geopolitical developments, this relationship is of utmost importance.

‘We will discuss with Minister Symonds how we tackle together foreign interference and the manipulation of information,’ she said.

She also said that security and defence cooperation with the United Kingdom would be discussed and that, at the same time, ‘we are preparing for the next EU-UK summit.’

Raouna added that today’s discussion would pave the way for the next discussions in Brussels.

Replying to a question on whether she believes the European Commission’s proposal responds to every aspect of the crisis for the coming years and what message today’s session sends, Raouna said that ‘in recent years we have learned our lesson. The European Union has had to tackle multiple crises, whether it be the pandemic, the migration crisis – and Cyprus, as you know, is a frontline member state when it comes to migration – or Russian aggression against Ukraine. And each and every time, the European Union managed to respond.’

She also pointed out that the new multiannual financial framework takes this experience into account and incorporates elements aimed at achieving a better and more flexible response.

She added that ‘the discussions in the various working groups have touched on these issues, and we want to build on those elements to see what more we can do to strengthen these mechanisms.’

Asked about the governmental change in Hungary and how this development affects the process, Raouna said that enlargement is one of the key priorities of the Cyprus Presidency, ‘and from day one we have been working with all enlargement partners in order to advance their accession negotiations. And we did so for Moldova and Ukraine.’

She noted that the technical work has been completed in all areas, and that discussions are ongoing with the new Hungarian government.

‘There has been communication both by President Christodoulides and by Foreign Minister Kombos. We will continue engaging with our Hungarian partners in order to find a way to ensure that there is consensus, as the Cyprus Presidency has consistently done from the very beginning,’ she said.

In her opening remarks at the start of the first session, Marilena Raouna also said that ‘our informal meeting is an opportunity to reflect on how we can continue strengthening our Union, based on the very clear vision of the Cyprus Presidency for a more autonomous Union, open to the world.’

She said that during the session there would be an exchange of views ‘on some of the key issues shaping the future of the Union, starting with the Multiannual Financial Framework, followed by a discussion on enlargement, with a focus on the fundamentals, the backbone of the enlargement process, and particularly on the rule of law of our enlargement partners.’

She concluded that this will be followed by an exchange of views with the United Kingdom, a like-minded partner in addressing the common challenges that put our democracies at risk.

The Republic of Cyprus currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU for a six-month term that started on January 1st, 2026, as part of a Trio Presidency along with Poland and Denmark.

Cyprus EU Presidency placed particular emphasis on investing in young people, empowering teachers and promoting inclusive, learner-centred education systems, Minister of Education, Sport and Youth, Athena Michaelidou said Monday, pointing out that the Presidency delivered on key commitments set out in its programme, through negotiations and close cooperation with Member States and European institutions.

Speaking after the conclusion of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council in Brussels the Minister said that it was ‘a very important Council’, during which a series of decisions were adopted in the fields of education and youth.

Minister Michaelidou stressed that education and youth policies are central to shaping the future of the European Union. She also made special reference to the agreement on the partial general approach for the Erasmus+ programme for the 2028-2034 period, describing it as one of the Cyprus Presidency’s most significant achievements.

She explained that Erasmus+ is the EU’s flagship programme for education, training, youth and sport and that, over the past 40 years, it has provided study, training and volunteering opportunities to more than 16 million people.

Michaelidou said that the agreement reached reflects the determination of Member States to make the programme more accessible, effective and sustainable for future generations.

She noted that this constitutes a clear example of the Cyprus Presidency delivering tangible results on issues that directly affect citizens.

During the Council meeting, conclusions on ‘Teachers in the Age of AI’ were also adopted, with the Minister noting that they represent the Council’s first initiative specifically dedicated to the relationship between artificial intelligence and education.

Cyprus Minister also noted that as artificial intelligence transforms societies and economies, European education systems are being called upon to adapt in order to support both the digital transition and Europe’s long-term competitiveness and strategic autonomy. She underlined, however, that technology cannot replace the human dimension of teaching.

She stated that teachers remain at the heart of the learning process, contributing to the development of values, critical thinking and skills.

The Minister further noted that the Council conclusions send a clear message that Europe’s digital future depends both on technological development and on the empowerment of teachers and education systems.

The Council also held discussions on strengthening basic skills and advancing the European Education Area. Michaelidou stated that skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, adaptability and active citizenship are considered essential both for personal development and for the functioning of resilient democratic societies.

She said that education systems must prepare learners not only for the labour market, but also for lifelong learning, active participation and the challenges of an evolving international environment.

At the same time, she stressed that European cooperation, through the European Education Area and the Union of Skills, can contribute to the creation of more competitive, resilient and inclusive education systems.

On youth policy, Michaelidou stated that the Cyprus Presidency had worked towards strengthening the meaningful participation of young people in decision-making processes, emphasising that Europe must be built together with young people and not only for them.

She highlighted that ministers’ discussions focused on the growing challenges faced by young people, including the rising cost of living, housing difficulties, mental health pressures and inequalities in access to opportunities.

The Minister stated that there was broad agreement that the EU’s post-2027 Youth Strategy should be based on youth-centred policies, ensuring the participation of young people at every stage of the process, from policy design to implementation and evaluation.

In this context, she noted that two key texts were adopted: the resolution on the EU Youth Strategy Work Plan, which updates the implementation framework for the next policy cycle, and the resolution on the outcomes of the 11th cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue.

Michaelidou stated that the second resolution advances specific recommendations made by young people through three European Youth Conferences, aimed at guiding policymaking at both European and national level.

‘The Cyprus Presidency worked to promote a simple but important principle: Europe is stronger when it is built together with its young people,’ she said.